Apostles Are Servants of Christ

4 People should think of us as servants of Christ, ·the ones God has trusted with his [and stewards/household managers of God’s] ·secrets [mysteries].

²⁵ ·Glory to God [^LNow to the one] who can make you strong in faith ·by [or in accord with] ·the Good News that I tell people [^Lmy Gospel] and ·by [or in accord with] the ·message [preaching; proclamation] about Jesus Christ. The message about Christ is the ·secret [mystery; 11:25] that was hidden for long ages past but is now ·made known [revealed; disclosed].

²⁶ It has been ·made clear [revealed; disclosed] through the writings of the prophets. And by the command of the eternal God it is ·made known [revealed; disclosed] to all ·nations [Gentiles] ·that they might believe and obey [or for the obedience that follows faith; ^Lfor the obedience of faith].

²⁶ This message is the ·secret [mystery; ^Csomething God had not previously disclosed; Eph. 1:9] that was hidden from ·everyone since the beginning of time [^Lages and generations], but now it is made known to ·God’s holy people [^Tthe saints]. ²⁷ God ·decided [chose; willed] to let his people know this rich and glorious ·secret [mystery; 1:26] which he has for ·all people [the nations/Gentiles]. This ·secret [mystery] is ·that Christ lives in you. He is our only hope for glory [^LChrist in you, the hope of glory]. ²⁸ So we continue to ·preach [proclaim; announce] Christ to each person, using all wisdom to ·warn [instruct; admonish] and to teach everyone, in order to bring each one into God’s presence as a mature person in Christ.

The Body of Christ Works Together

¹² A person’s body is ·one thing [a unity; ^Lone], but it has many parts. Though there are many parts to a body, all those parts make only one body. Christ is like that also.

²⁰ I ·was put to death on the cross [^Lhave been crucified] with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my ·body [flesh], but I live ·by faith in [or because of the faithfulness of] the Son of God who loved me and gave himself ·to save me [^Lfor me; on my behalf].